WEST BANK: YASSER ARAFAT RECEIVES HERO'S WELCOME IN NABLUS

(15 Dec 1995) English/Nat

P-L-O leader Yasser Arafat has been given a hero's welcome on his arrival in Nablus following the hasty withdrawal of Israeli troops from the city earlier this week.

Thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank's largest and most violent city turned out to hear Arafat speak from the rooftop of the former Israeli military headquarters.

They also pledged their support for him in the forthcoming Palestinian general elections.

Thousands of Palestinians surrounded Israel's former military headquarters and cheered and clapped as Arafat's helicopter landed
in the compound.

Onlookers crowded the streets and were perched on rooftops to get a better view.

Palestinian youth groups were also out in force to give Arafat their support.

As the P-L-O leader's helicopter came in to land the chanting rose to a crescendo.

Security for Arafat was tight with hundreds of armed guards dispersed among the crowd in the streets, while others ringed the building.

Standing on the rooftop, Arafat asked the crowd in the square below if liberated Nablus would nominate him for president in the forthcoming Palestinian general elections.

The thousands of Palestinians pledged their allegiance to him as they clapped, whistled and waved Palestinian flags.

The campaign for the Jan 20 Palestinian general elections began Thursday with the first candidates putting forward their names.

Arafat is seeking the presidency, and was expected to formally register himself later Friday.

But he faces one of his toughest challenges in ruling Nablus.

In recent months the city has been controlled by armed vigilantes who have shot and wounded some 40 residents they suspected of being criminals or informers for Israel.

The gang's leader has said he is ready to join the Palestinian security forces, but his gunmen have not yet handed in their weapons.

During the 1987 to 1993 uprising against Israeli occupation, Nablus
was one of the strongholds of resistance.

In the past few weeks, violence has erupted on the streets of the city between Palestinians and Israeli troops.

Youths repeatedly stoned troops even though a date for their withdrawal had already been set.

In the end, Israel decided to pull out a day early to avoid more street confrontations.

One young Palestinian welcomed the move and held out hope for the future.

SOUNDBITE:
Now we live together in coexistence, together, freely. No occupation. Without killing, without blood. Only we want to see the olive tree, just without killing, without hurting, without any blood.
SUPER CAPTION: Boy scout

One Palestinian was already hailing Arafat as his president.

SOUNDBITE:
We are very happy to welcome our president, Yasser Arafat. Nablus, the Palestinians, all the Palestinians in Nablus are very happy today. It's our national day here.
SUPER CAPTION: Nablus resident

Nablus was the third West Bank city to be handed to Arafat's control in a month.

Under the Israel-PLO autonomy agreement, Israeli troops are to leave three other towns -- Qalqiliya, Bethlehem and Ramallah -- by the end of
December.

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